Give two points to Corona Santiago's wrestling team for the reversal.

In their second year, the Sharks have gone from last season's 2-5 record to an 8-3 mark. In addition, they have secured at least a tie for third place in the very competitive Mountain View League. At 2-2 in league, the Sharks can secure sole possession of third place with a victory tonight againstvisiting Corona.

The turnaround has come more quickly than Coach Brian O'Hara expected.

"We've had a pretty good group of young guys who have come in and picked up pretty quick on the stuff," said O'Hara, who had previously coached at La Habra Sonora.

New sports programs usually go through a couple of years of growing pains before hitting stride. But wrestling programs, because of their specific demands, can be especially slow to develop, O'Hara said.

"The sport is so tough that people see the conditioning we do and what the guys go through and it drives some away from it," he said. Even when you are able to attract athletes, preparing them, even well-conditioned athletes like football players, takes time.

"It's just such a different type of conditioning that it's almost like they are starting from the beginning."

This year, the light- and middle-weight classes have excelled for the Sharks, who are powered by a strong sophomore class that boasts eight varsity starters among the 14 weight classes.

Among the standouts for the Sharks have been 112-pounder Angelo Elpidio, 119-pounder David Vasquez, 125-pounder Ian Murphy and 152-pounder Guy Smith, who are all sophomores.

"We have some other guys who have had good seasons also, but those four would probably stand as some of the best so far," O'Hara said.

The Sharks' winning tone was set early with a victory over San Bernardino, which defeated them last season. In league, they defeated Norco and Jurupa Valley for the first time.

As might have been expected, they lost to top-ranked Corona Centennial and to 10th-ranked Riverside La Sierra.

Their only other loss was to Temecula Chaparral. Five Santiago varsity wrestlers did not compete against Chaparral because of injuries or missed practices, yet the Sharks lost by a mere five points.

"Each team is a rung on the ladder," O'Hara said. "Now we are trying to shoot for the guys on the top rungs, which are La Sierra and Centennial. . . . You take it a rung at a time."

After today's meet, the Sharks will wrestle in the league championships at La Sierra Feb. 7 beginning at 3 p.m.

"The guys have worked really hard all season, and I think that's what's showing on the mat," O'Hara said.

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Norco's Lauren Plunkett's time has come.

After playing behind Heather Hansen and Kristen Harris in her first two basketball seasons, Plunkett was an all-CIF second-team selection as a junior last year. The post player is only improving in her senior season.

Plunkett, 6-foot-1, had her first career triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals in Thursday's game against Corona Santiago.

"I always get pumped up for Santiago. It's like my rival, I guess," Plunkett said.

Plunkett is averaging 11.5 points, nine rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game for the Cougars (6-0 in the Mountain View League, 19-2 overall).

"She's probably the most athletic post we've had at Norco, and that includes two Division I post players (Amy Wunderlich, UNLV, and Hansen, Cal State Fullerton)," Coach Rick Thompson said.

Her athleticism has helped Plunkett become the No. 2 steals leader on the team, a rarity for a post player.

"She also brings a sense of anticipation of defense," Thompson said. "Her skills fit as well or better than any other players' we have ever had into our defensive scheme."

Plunkett, who has also competed on the track and field team in the long and triple jumps and is a standout volleyball player, has a leaping ability that allows Thompson to design plays he otherwise couldn't run.

About the only post player Plunkett has struggled against is last year's Division 2AA co-player of the year, Chelsea Trotter of Brea Olinda.

"She presents problems for other posts that want to post up strong to her," Thompson said. "She has this uncanny ability to get around them . . . It's almost like a cat-and-mouse game. When you think of a post, you think of a powerful, angry, push-you-away-from-the-basket player. She's more of a finesse, lull-you-to-sleep type player."

Plunkett said her goal for the rest of the season is to enjoy her last year of high school ball. After that, she'll have some tough decisions to make.

Community College or four-year school? Volleyball or basketball? Plunkett said she's still considering which way to go.

"I want to play one sport in college," Plunkett said. "People are saying I could play two at a Division II or Division III college. But I think it's hard enough to play one in college."

A plus if she chooses volleyball would be avoiding the bumps and bruises she receives playing inside.

"I'm like tall and really skinny, and these girls in college basketball are sometimes way bigger than me," she said.

Helping her take her mind off those decisions this week will be a game against visiting La Sierra on Wednesday and a road game against Centennial on Friday.